The Zoologist — February, 1873. 3393 



fly, as to-day (September 10th) I examined one which had the entire 

 set of primary, secondary and greater wing-covert feathers quite 

 new, perfectly regular and beautifully formed, though very short, 

 the longest of the former not exceeding one inch. Also observed 

 numbers of young starlings, with black patches and while spots 

 already appearing in various places on the plain brown immature 

 dress. Was glad to see several families of young wood larks 

 frequenting the same fields in which I observed pairs of old ones 

 during the spring. Titlarks are now to be seen in their bright 

 autumnal dress ; and many of the stubble-fields are alive with large 

 flocks of gleaning sparrows and finches. 



Lesser Blackbacked Gull, Wlieatear, 8fc. — Sept. 11. Examined 

 an adult lesser blackbacked gull which still retained the pure white 

 head and neck of the breeding season. A great many wheatears, 

 both young and old, have made their appearance on the coast 

 previous to their departure for the winter. Was told by one of the 

 Eddystone Lighthouse men that great numbers of small birds flew 

 against the lantern during the spring, especially wheatears, many 

 of which were picked up in the gallery and on the rock below, and 

 that on one occasion there were enough for the men to make a 

 "jolly roast," as he termed it. 



Raven, Blackheaded Gull, Green Woodpecker, 8fc. — Sept. 12. 

 Saw in Bickleigh Vale, near Plymouth, several ravens, many green 

 woodpeckers and kestrels. Observed, on the 13th, the first black- 

 headed gulls in the harbour after their return from the breeding 

 stations. On the 14th noticed many water ouzels, gray wagtails 

 and a kingfisher or two on the River Avon. 



Sanderling. — Sept. 16. Examined some sanderlings which were 

 killed on the coast. This species, generally scarce in our neigh- 

 bourhood, appears to have been unusually plentiful during the past 

 few weeks. 



Pied Jackdaw. — Sept. 17. Near Lifton saw a jackdaw which 

 much resembled a magpie, and a ievf years since saw two pure 

 white ones which were killed at Launceston, about four miles from 

 the above place, and which I believe were bred on Launceston 

 Castle. 



Rooks and Gulls. — Sept. 21. Observed sixteen rooks flying round 

 and dipping in the water among a flock of gulls, at the stern of the 

 "Royal Adelaide" in the harbour. Acting like gulls has become 

 quite a habit with the rooks in our harbours. 



